Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

CS1567

Incident date

October 2, 2017

Location

‏العشارة‬, near Al Asharah, Syria, Deir ez-Zor, Syria

Geolocation

34.8895, 40.56055 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Within 100m (via Coalition) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of a civilian in an event near Al Asharah, Syria.

Their December 2017 civilian casualty report noted: “During a Coalition strike which destroyed ISIS vehicle and equipment it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured.”

In July 2019, the Coalition provided Airwars with the location of this incident, accurate to within a 100 metre box.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Prior to the Coalition releasing the MGRS for this incident, Airwars had geolocated it to the nearest town at 34.919682, 40.560622

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    1
  • Stated location
    near Al Asharah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFU426619
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 28, 2017

  • Oct. 2, 2017 near Al Asharah, Syria via self-report. During a Coalition strike which destroyed ISIS vehicle and equipment it was assessed that one civilian was unintentionally injured.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 1st – 2nd the Coalition reported “Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed two ISIS well heads and a fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM103

Incident date

November 13, 2017

Location

Awhiigle, Gaduud, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

-0.0741815, 42.5719168 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The sixth declared US strike in five days hit Somalia, targeting al Shabaab fighters, the US military told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

An Africa Command spokesperson said the attack occurred at 0840 near Gaduud about 250 miles southwest of Mogadishu. As of November 15th, the US was still “assessing the results of the strike”.

The spokesperson said: “During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, a group of armed al Shabaab terrorists posed an imminent threat to Somali-led and US forces, a threat which the Somali’s and their partners were unable to mitigate. In response, the US conducted a self-defence strike against the armed militant group to neutralise the threat.”

The spokesperson for Somalia’s security ministry told Voice of America that the strike hit in the town of Awhiigle. “It is part of an ongoing efforts [sic] to target the militant hideouts and bases, from where they organise attacks against our people,” he said. “The government and its partners are still assessing the results.”

The incident occured at approximately 8:40 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Awhiigle, near the town of Gaduud. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location of Awhiigle. However, the generic coordinates for the town of Gaduud are: -0.0741815, 42.5719168.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces

Via email:

"I can confirm that during a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, a group of armed al-Shabaab terrorists posed an imminent threat to Somali-led and U.S. forces, a threat which the Somali's and their partners were unable to mitigate. In response, the U.S. conducted a self-defense strike against the armed militant group to neutralize the threat.

The strike occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m., Monday, Nov. 13, near Gaduud, about 250 miles southwest of the capital, Mogadishu.

We are currently assessing the results of the strike."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-189

Incident date

September 25–30, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

32.110714, 20.12455 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed by Rebel forces artillery shelling and its mother injured in Sirte, according to the UN.

The report said: “Family members interviewed by the Commission stated that a female relative was injured by shrapnel, and her infant daughter was killed, when her home in Hay al-Dollar was hit by Grad rockets in late September 2011.”

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • UN
    • English
    • English

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighborhood of Dollar (الدولار) in the city of Benghazi (بنغازي), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.110714, 20.12455. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighborhood of Dollar (الدولار) in the city of Benghazi (بنغازي).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • UN
    • English
    • English

Incident Code

USSOM135-C

Incident date

July 22–27, 2018

Location

Marka, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.716269, 44.769753 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A strike reportedly hit a village outside Marka, a city around 60 miles south of Mogadishu, according to a field investigation by a reporter for The Nation. There were no reports of immediate civilian harm, though a man reportedly died of a heart attack following the violence.

Airwars has placed this event in a date range from July 22nd-27th 2019, reflecting limits to current reporting.

Khadija Hassan Ali, a mother of three, spoke to the reporter Amanda Sperber: “Ali said that her husband, Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan, died in late July from what she believes was a heart attack after night-time strikes hit her village amid fighting between Al Shabab and government-led militias. She is certain of the timing because, in Somali culture, a wife formally mourns for four months and 10 days after the death of her husband, so she had the dates in mind when I talked with her in late November.”

The only strike that US Africa Command claim to have conducted in late July was around 50 kilometres north of Kismayo on July 23rd – which Airwars has recorded separately. However as Sperber notes, Kismayo is over 400km away from Marka.

According to the article, an international human rights organisation additionally leaked a document to the reporter that indicated a strike occurred on July 25th in Qalimow, but this is about 95 miles away from Ali’s home. This event also has its own entry.

The US was thought to be the only country conducting airstrikes in this region of Somalia at the time. Sperber suggests that the strike may not match AFRICOM’s records because it could potentially be a CIA strike.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan
Age unknown male Died of a heart attack following reported "night time strikes hit [the] village amid fighting between al Shabaab and government-led militias." killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in a strike outside of the city Marka. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to locate the precise location of the strike. The coordinates for the city of Marka are: 1.716269, 44.769753.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-095

Incident date

May 15, 2011

Location

النادي الأهلي الرياضي, Al Ahly Club, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.856667, 13.141111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 15th, 2011, one civilian, a young man, was shot dead in Tripoli by Gaddafi forces during a protest in Tripoli in front of the al-Ahly Club. No injury numbers could be found, reported only by a Facebook post from the “Only Libya” page.

“Only Libya” reported the casualty, stating “A demonstration took place yesterday night in front of Al-Ahly Tripoli Club in Al-Riyadiah. About 500 people were met with bullets, and a young man was killed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Ahly Club (النادي الأهلي الرياضي) in the city of Tripoli (طرابلس),  for which the generic coordinates are: 32.856667, 13.141111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM185

Incident date

January 30, 2019

Location

Shebeeley, Hiiraan, Somalia

Geolocation

3.23493, 45.53063 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

US Africa Command reported that the previous day it had “conducted an airstrike near a terrorist encampment location in the vicinity of Shebeeley, Hiran Region, Somalia, on January 30, 2019.”

It added: “no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike “killed twenty-four militants.” This contrasted with AFRICOM claims just a week earlier that it would no longer give enemy casualty numbers in its reports.

According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, “Government officials in Baledwayne, the capital of the Hiran region, also confirmed the incident to Anadolu Agency over the phone.”

In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM again confirmed it had struck on this date what it says were “al Shabaab fighters”, in the vicinity of Shebeeley.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    24

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted a terrorist encampment in the vicinity of the village Shebeleey in Hiiraan region. According to UN mapping of the area, this most likely refers to a settlement (Shabeeleye) at the following location: 3.23493, 45.53063. However, there is another settlement of which the name is also close in spelling to the reported village, called Shabellow (or Shabceellow or Sabeelley), at these coordinates: 4.71542, 45.21618. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

To support the Federal Government of Somalia's continued efforts to degrade al-Shabaab, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike near a terrorist encampment location in the vicinity of Shebeeley, Hiran Region, Somalia, on January 30, 2019.


This precision airstrike is part of a larger effort to support the Somali National Army (SNA) as it increases pressure on the terrorist network and its recruiting efforts in the region.


“We are partnered with the Federal Government of Somalia, and other international partners, to protect the people of Somalia,” said Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Gregg Olson, U.S. Africa Command director of operations. “Precision strikes are part of our strategy. Strikes continue to help our partners make progress in their fight against the transnational terrorists who oppose peace in Somalia and in the region.”


The SNA and its partners will continue to effectively target terrorist training camps and assessed safe havens in order to deny al-Shabaab the ability to build capacity and attack the people of Somalia. In particular, the group uses portions of southern and central Somalia to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists.


U.S. Africa Command currently assesses this airstrike killed twenty-four militants.


At this time, it was assessed no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.


U.S. Africa Command will continue to work with its partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia from AMISOM to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States, and U.S. forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to protect the Somali people, including partnered military counter-terror operations with the Federal Government of Somalia, AMISOM and Somali National Army forces.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    24

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-138

Incident date

August 9, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 16 people, identified as Egyptian workers, were killed by Gaddafi forces on August 9, 2011 in Misrata according to Abdul Asallak’s post on YouTube and a tweet by @tounsiahourra.

Multiple sources stated that those killed were Egyptian workers who worked in a warehouse in the Kararim area of Misrata. A video posted by Abdul Asallak’s on YouTube shows more than 10 dead bodies in a pile.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM224

Incident date

May 17–18, 2019

Location

Bu'aale, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

1.251778, 42.575959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A suspected US drone carried out double airstrikes in Somalia’s Middle Juba region, killing 20 al Shabaab fighters in total, Mareeg Media reported.

According to Mareeg: “A suspected US drone has carried out double air strikes targeting towns held by al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab in south of Somalia. The strikes were conducted in Bu’ale and Jilib towns, major al Shabaab strongholds in south of Somalia’s Middle Jubba region.

“A Somali military official, who asked to be unnamed, says 20 Al Shabaab militants, including senior commanders had been killed in the latest air raids. It is unclear who carried out the bombing. There was no immediate comment from Al Shabaab over the claims.”

Mareeg did not give a date or time of day for this strike, which is therefore registered on the day that it was initially reported.

According to Algaalgagud, “News from Jilib and Bu’ale in Middle Juba states that they have suffered several bombings by unknown fighter jets. These targeted an al Shabaab base at Buale and other facilities. The base is said to have been damaged or destroyed.”

Asked whether it had been responsible for this event, in February 2020 a senior AFRICOM official told Airwars that this was not the case. However, this may not preclude actions by the CIA which conducts its own undeclared strikes in Somalia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    10

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that a double airstrike targeted the towns Jilib and Bu’aale. The coordinates for the town Bu’aale are: 1.251778, 42.575959. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    10

Sources (2) [ collapse]